Power posturing at South China Sea? China shadows Indian Coast Guard ship in disputed waters

Amid the ongoing standoff between China and the Philippines at the contested, resource-rich Scarborough shoal, an Indian Coast Guard was at the receiving end of China's aggression recently.

The world’s largest coast guard ship, known as the 'monster ship' is present near Scarborough Shoal even as the Philippines Navy is holding drills in the area. Scarborough Shoal is located inside the Philippine exclusive economic zone although both China and the Philippines lay claim to the coral atoll.

The Philippines said this was merely a "routine unilateral exercise" and would go on till Sunday.

"If China is genuinely committed to deescalating tensions and sincerely seeks to foster mutual trust and cooperation between our nations ...the Chinese government must respect the Philippines' sovereign rights in our EEZ," the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement on Friday.

Now, reports emerge that Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Shaunak, returning from a goodwill visit to Japan was shadowed by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

ICGS Shaunak is a Samarth-class Offshore Patrol Vessel designed for various maritime tasks, including search and rescue operations, law enforcement, pollution response, and maritime patrol.

"#India Coast Guard Ship ICGS Shaunak, returning from a goodwill visit to 🇯🇵#Japan, is shadowed by 🇨🇳#China Coast Guard 3304 as it passes west of Scarborough Shoal--even as "Monster" ship CCG 5901 is engaged with 🇵🇭#Philippines Coast Guard BRP Gabriella Silang east of the shoal, Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative of the Gordian Knot Centre for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, said in a tweet.

“#China Coast Guard 5305 has picked up shadowing the 🇮🇳 @indiacoastguard's ICGS Shaunak through the #SouthChinaSea,” he said in another tweet.